The Tuchuks are one of four tribes of Wagon People. The other three are the Paravaci, Kassars and Kataii. Kamchak is the Ubar-San, the chief warrior of the Wagon People and Kutaituchik, sits upon his throne in gray robes symbolizing his status as Ubar of the Tuchuks. They are a ruthless and rugged people. They value courage above all else. Tuchuks are marked with scars, denoting the status of their accomplishments. This Scar Code is inflicted with needles, knives and pigments, and the dung of bosks over a period of several days. The scars follow in order of red, yellow, blue, black, then two yellows and another black. Red, the first scar at the top of the face, is the courage scar and no other scar can be granted without first being marked with the scar of courage. The Tuchuks worship nothing in the common sense of the word. They do hold reverence for the Priest Kings, but they do not extend themselves to the dignities of worship...although they do hold many things holy. When the Tuchuks pray, it is always mounted and with weapon in hand. Looking up to the sky, the Tuchuk men pray as warriors. The Tuchuk women are not allowed to pray, but many of them do seek out the haruspexes, who, for reasonable fees, will tell their future. The haruspexes also offer amulets, talismans, trinkets, filters, potions, spell papers, wonder-working sleen teeth, mystical powdered kailiauk horns, and colored magic strings that, depending on the purpose, may be knotted in various ways and worn around the neck. Also, every woman, whether she be free or slave, is branded and wears a small golden ring thru her nose. It is among the Tuchuks that Tarl Cabot encountered Elizabeth Cardwell, ultimately taking her as his slave. Tarl Cabot had freed Elizabeth letting her live and eat beside him. He tried to be civil to her, but Elizabeth challenged Tarl Cabot every step of the way, in the end, giving him no choice but to slay her or enslave her. Elizabeth was enslaved and given the name vella. Tarl Cabot grew to love her and had intended to get her back to Earth, but vella had betrayed his will by saddling a tarn and fleeing the Sadar. He encountered her again in a paga tavern in the city of Lydius, a slave once more, and this time she begged him to buy her and free her. Tarl Cabot left her behind in Lydius, but not before telling her owners that they posessed a fine pleasure slave who also danced with great passion. The stories of the Tuchuks are interesting and one can learn much about them reading the fouth book of the Saga of Tarl Cabot, NOMADS OF GOR. |